Teenage Engineering PO-80 Record Factory enables you make your own Lo-Fi Vinyl
Teenage Engineering PO-80 is a $149 lo-fi vinyl cutting machine with “ultra-analogue sound quality”. The PO-80 Record Factory is a compact record cutter that lets you engrave and play back 5″ discs with “ultra-analog lo-fi sound”.
Created in collaboration with Japanese designer Yuri Suzuki, this enables you to cut your own 5-inch vinyl discs and play them back, but the sound quality is lo-fi in the extreme.
Operation is simple: to cut a disk, you simply plug in an audio device to the 3.5 mm audio input and cut your own record in an instant. And Built-in speakers allow you to listen directly from your PO-80, or connect an external speaker through the 3.5 mm audio plug. As well as being able to play back the records you cut, you can also take your existing 7-inch vinyl for a spin.
The PO-80 is supplied as a build-it-yourself kit, which contains everything you need to get started, such as a needle and discs. If you want to buy more blank vinyl records, a box of ten will set you back $30/£20, while a new cutting head costs $15/£15.
Teenage Engineering says that the PO-80 enables you to “experience the warmth of lo-fi audio” and “ultra-analogue sound quality”. You can check out the audio clips on the company’ website to hear the kind of results you can expect.
In terms of sound quality, the PO-80 sits in stark contrast to Teenage Engineering’s high-end OB-4 radio, which doubles as a “media instrument”.
To help you optimise your audio for cutting, TE has also created an online mastering tool, which enables you to apply your desired EQ curve. Created in collaboration with plugin developer Klevgrand, it’s designed to help you “achieve good lo-fi sound quality on your custom 5-inch cuts”.
Features:
- Monophonic record cutting & playback
- Recording time: 33rpm approx 4 minutes / 45rpm approx 3 minutes per disk side
- USB powered. 3.5mm mono input/output terminal
- Size: 3.54″ x 6.30″ x 5.91″. Weight: 1.26 lb / 570g
- Included in the box: PO–80 assembly kit, spare cutting needle, 6 black 5-inch blank records, USB power cable, 3.5 mm audio plug, adaptor for 7-inch records, Gakken magazine
- Online mastering tool on Teenage Engineering site powered by Klevgrand
The PO-80 Record Factory is available now for $149. Find out more about the PO-80 on the Teenage Engineering website.
